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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived in New York on Sunday after U.S. special forces launched a pre-dawn raid that removed him from power and flew him out of the country.
A U.S. government plane flew Maduro to a military base, and from there, he was airlifted by helicopter to New York City, where he and his wife are set to face drug and weapons charges, according to local media.
Maduro was taken to a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration facility, where he was seen handcuffed and wearing sandals, escorted by federal agents. In a brief statement captured on video, the 63-year-old said, "Good night, happy new year," in English.
According to U.S. officials, the Venezuelan leader and his wife surrendered without resistance during the operation, which involved over 150 aircraft and extensive intelligence surveillance of Maduro’s daily habits. He now faces arraignment in New York on drug trafficking and weapons charges.
President Donald Trump said that personnel from his cabinet would oversee affairs in Venezuela. While providing no specific details on governance, he stated, "We’re going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place."
Trump also hinted at direct U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s oil sector. "We’re going to have our substantial United States oil companies... go in, spend billions of dollars, and fix the badly broken infrastructure," he said. "We’ll be selling large amounts of oil."
As Maduro was flown out of the country, Venezuela’s Supreme Court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume presidential duties "in an acting capacity."
The ruling did not declare Maduro permanently absent from office, an official designation that would constitutionally require new elections within 30 days.
Rodriguez rejected Trump’s overtures and called for Maduro’s release, pledging to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty. Trump, however, dismissed Venezuela’s U.S.-backed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and suggested Rodriguez might be a viable partner.
"She's essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again," Trump said.
Maduro has been in power since 2013, following the death of Hugo Chavez, leader of the Bolivarian Revolution. The U.S. and several European governments have never recognized him as the legitimate president after the 2018 and 2024 elections, claiming he rigged both votes.
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